Prepping for Jackson Reed in fall

[Anonymous]

My kid will be a ninth grader at Jackson Reed in the fall. For people whose kids go to the school—
What do you wish you knew back before freshman year to help your kid prepare?
What would’ve been useful to know about the school in terms of academies, AP, other classes?
What kind of supports if any have you found that helped your kid, if your kid had not been in a school so large before?
Thanks

[Anonymous]

The best thing your kid can do is get involved in activities that interest them. It’s a great way for your kid to find their place and feel like they belong.

[Anonymous]

Which feeder school is your kid coming from? If Deal they should be fine. Same big school vibe just more chaos. Biggest thing is to start getting them and yourself adjusted to the idea that they will need to advocate for themselves sometimes. But, it is a good skill to learn. Get involved in a few activities - if they have any interest in STEM - Biomedicine, Computer Science and Engineering Academies all start in 9th grade.

JR has added much more supports in for 9th graders then used to exist.

[Anonymous]

Oh, this is a great thread for me to be reading! My kid will be entering JR from a charter school, so they won't know many people.

Do you have to sign up for academies before school even starts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which feeder school is your kid coming from? If Deal they should be fine. Same big school vibe just more chaos. Biggest thing is to start getting them and yourself adjusted to the idea that they will need to advocate for themselves sometimes. But, it is a good skill to learn. Get involved in a few activities - if they have any interest in STEM - Biomedicine, Computer Science and Engineering Academies all start in 9th grade.

JR has added much more supports in for 9th graders then used to exist.

I have had two go through JR and people love to use the word “chaos” a lot. I have found beginning of the year schedule changes (there is always something needing change) frustrating…but actually no chaos, or at least nothing that has ever caused any concern for my kids.

[Anonymous]

First week will be a complete mess.
And good luck getting your schedule changed.
The counselors literally hide out the first few weeks of school and then say it is too late to change anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First week will be a complete mess.
And good luck getting your schedule changed.
The counselors literally hide out the first few weeks of school and then say it is too late to change anything

Is there a way to get schedules changed, then? Secret handshake to find the counselors?

[Anonymous]

Join an academy

[Anonymous]

My kid’s a 9th grader- what are all the added supports? I don’t feel like she’s taking advantage. Shes in an academy, and could use some math and science help (as well as English, honestly). First two terms her grades dipped low, but she brought them up by redoing assignments. I feel like study skills aren’t her forte.

[Anonymous]

Watch out for the Biomed academy. Totally turned my kid off pre-med track and my kid’s grades sucked in it. Pulled down whole GPA.

[Anonymous]

So far this has been a completely useless and discouraging thread.

At least two people are really wishing that people with kids at the school would tell us some good advice for kids who are going to show up there not knowing anybody and without an experience of such a big school…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So far this has been a completely useless and discouraging thread.

At least two people are really wishing that people with kids at the school would tell us some good advice for kids who are going to show up there not knowing anybody and without an experience of such a big school…

I responded earlier re: finding activities.

The problem in this thread is the same one in every JR thread on DCUM; a few people come in and derail it with BS about how terrible, chaotic, and violent it is, and the vast majority of us who have kids there and are satisfied don’t feel like spending time fighting with them.

My kids are very happy there. The common thread with kids who are happy there, I think, is that they get involved in one or more activities, they appreciate the benefits of a big, diverse school, and they are comfortable approaching teachers and counselors for help when needed. I’m not going to debate my kids’ experiences with a bunch of strangers on the internet.

Honestly, you need to visit the school and talk with parents who have kids there—like, in real life. Also, follow the school on social media. Come see the spring musical in May or find a game to attend. That’s how you’ll get a real sense of the school. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid’s a 9th grader- what are all the added supports? I don’t feel like she’s taking advantage. Shes in an academy, and could use some math and science help (as well as English, honestly). First two terms her grades dipped low, but she brought them up by redoing assignments. I feel like study skills aren’t her forte.

There’s after school math tutoring available three days/week. You can find the days, times, and room number on the website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So far this has been a completely useless and discouraging thread.

At least two people are really wishing that people with kids at the school would tell us some good advice for kids who are going to show up there not knowing anybody and without an experience of such a big school…

I responded earlier re: finding activities.

The problem in this thread is the same one in every JR thread on DCUM; a few people come in and derail it with BS about how terrible, chaotic, and violent it is, and the vast majority of us who have kids there and are satisfied don’t feel like spending time fighting with them.

My kids are very happy there. The common thread with kids who are happy there, I think, is that they get involved in one or more activities, they appreciate the benefits of a big, diverse school, and they are comfortable approaching teachers and counselors for help when needed. I’m not going to debate my kids’ experiences with a bunch of strangers on the internet.

Honestly, you need to visit the school and talk with parents who have kids there—like, in real life. Also, follow the school on social media. Come see the spring musical in May or find a game to attend. That’s how you’ll get a real sense of the school. Good luck.

+1000. You live in the neighborhood and there are a lot of JR kids from the neighborhood. Coming to DCUM is really a bad way to find out what you want to know specific to your kid.

[Anonymous]

Another suggestion: read the student newspaper, The Beacon. It's very good, and you'll learn a lot about what's going on at the school.